The 2025 TCS London Marathon is only days away, with Sunday’s spectacle set to be the biggest in the event’s 45-year history. Alongside a stellar elite field featuring Jacob Kiplimo, Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan, this year’s race is set to welcome a record 56,000 runners — potentially surpassing the world-best 55,646 finishers from the 2023 New York Marathon. If you secured a spot in the running equivalent of Glastonbury, you might want to buy a lottery ticket and steer clear of lightning — only around four per cent of applicants make it in, according to new data. If you weren’t lucky this time, you can still soak up the race day buzz and drama from the sidelines. Bonus: no blisters. From the hottest support spots and celebrities to watch for, to free drink finishers, here’s everything you need to know about the travel, racecourse and timings. If you feel inspired, we have also included information about applying to run next year. Race day is set for Sunday, April 27. The elite wheelchair races will kick off at 8.50am, followed by the elite women at 9.05am and the elite men at 9.35am. The mass start will occur in waves between 9.35am and 11.30am (though exact timings may change). Participants will receive their specific start wave time via email around three weeks before race day. There are two golden rules for cheer-squad novices: download the official London Marathon app to track your runner in real-time, and plan your viewing spot. The route kicks off in Blackheath and winds past some of London’s most iconic landmarks before finishing on The Mall — so expect big crowds and some shoulder barging if you want a prime view (and for your runner to spot you too). The most popular cheer spots are at the Cutty Sark (mile 6), Tower Bridge (mile 12), Canary Wharf (mile 18), the Tower of London (mile 22), the London Eye and Big Ben (mile 25), and, of course, Buckingham Palace (mile 26). But if you'd prefer a less crowded view, try Rotherhithe and Bermondsey between miles 9 and 12 — a great place to give your runner a much-needed boost. For those hoping to catch them more than once, Limehouse and Canary Wharf (miles 14 to 21) offer a looped section of the course, so you won’t need to walk far to see them multiple times. For those with disabilities, the accessible cheer points are at Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Rainbow Row (Butcher Row), Tower Hill and Victoria Embankment. See above for a map of the route on Strava. And here’s our list of the best pubs, bars and restaurants along the 26.2-mile route. The weather is shaping up nicely for Sunday’s marathon, with sunny intervals and light winds predicted throughout the day. Runners setting off in the morning can expect mild conditions around 12C at 9am, with temperatures rising steadily to a warm 20°C by 3pm — ideal for spectators. However, runners may want to stay well-hydrated as the day heats up. If you can’t make it to the capital on race day — or just fancy a Sunday lie-in — you can still soak up the excitement from your sofa. The BBC will broadcast the 2025 London Marathon live across BBC One and BBC Two, with additional coverage available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app. Live streams from Tower Bridge and the finish line will also be available to watch back on demand. There’s something ever so slightly satisfying about watching your favourite celebrity grinding it out for 26.2 miles, looking a little less polished than they do on Instagram. The London Marathon always draws big names — and according to the Running Channel, the 2025 line-up is no exception. Sir Jason Kenny, the nation’s most successful Olympian, is running his first marathon, alongside Sir Andrew Strauss and Sir Alastair Cook. The two England cricket legends are running for the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Other notable stars taking part include comedian Romesh Ranganathan, pop star Harry Judd, former Chelsea and England footballer John Terry and radio presenter Chris Evans. Keep your eyes peeled — if you spot them, you might even make your debut as an extra in the background of the broadcast. You can find more comprehensive details on the celebrities scheduled to participate here. Fancy dress is a quintessential part of the London Marathon. Remember the guy who spent five days completing the course dressed in a deep-sea diving suit? Conservation charity Save the Rhino claims to have pioneered the trend when a runner donned a 12kg rhino costume in 1992. Last year, Martin Turner, a member of the Wales Rugby League wheelchair team, took on the course in the same costume. Stars from the 2024 race included Dave 'the Running Telephone’, who ran his 25th marathon in aid of this year’s race charity, and 91-year-old David Picksley, who walked the route to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK in memory of his sister. If you’ve got any energy left to celebrate after the finish line, you can let off steam at an after-party or down a free pint at a local boozer. The Africa Centre in Southwark is hosting a free event with DJs, food and drinks, and more parties will likely be announced in the coming days. Pubs including The Bedford Pub and Three Cheers will offer marathon runners a free drink if they show their medals. If you find yourself swept up in the excitement of the event (don't say we didn’t warn you), the chance to secure a coveted spot is just around the corner. Pre-register for the 2026 marathon here.